A Dhaka court has granted four days’ remand for Obaidur Rahman, maternal uncle of Mariam Akter, the second wife of Satkhira-4 MP Gazi Nazrul Islam, in a case filed over her death.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ripon Hossain issued the order on Thursday after hearing arguments from both sides. State lawyer Harun-or-Rashid confirmed the decision.
Obaidur was brought before the court from custody, where the prosecution sought further time to question him about the circumstances surrounding Mariam’s death. State lawyer Omar Faruk Faruqi told the court that investigators needed to establish whether the death was a suicide or whether there was any criminal involvement.
The prosecution argued that questioning Obaidur in custody could help investigators clarify the sequence of events and determine whether anyone had played a role in the death.
Defence lawyer Golam Saber Chowdhury opposed the remand application and sought bail for his client. He argued that there was no evidence so far linking Obaidur to the alleged abetment of suicide. He said Obaidur might have been a witness to the marriage, but that did not mean he had encouraged Mariam to take her own life.
After hearing both sides, the court granted four days’ remand.
Obaidur was arrested and sent to jail on 23 September. On 28 September, Detective Branch inspector Mohammad Salauddin of the Tejgaon zonal team applied for five days’ remand for him.
Mariam found hanging at NAM Bhaban
Mariam was found hanging inside a flat at NAM Bhaban in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, on 20 September. Police recovered her body from Flat 203 on the third floor of Building 5, situated opposite the Parliament complex on Manik Mia Avenue.
Following the death, Mariam’s father, Mohammad Masum Billah, filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station alleging abetment of suicide. Gazi Nazrul Islam, his first wife Maksuda Islam and Obaidur Rahman were named as accused.
According to the case statement, Gazi Nazrul married Mariam in June under Islamic Sharia. As the MP was living in the capital, Mariam and his first wife, Maksuda, were residing with him at the NAM Bhaban residence.
The case alleges that Obaidur played a direct role in arranging the marriage between Gazi Nazrul and Mariam. It further alleges that after the marriage, Mariam was subjected to physical and mental abuse by Gazi Nazrul and Maksuda over various matters.
These allegations form part of the case filed by Mariam’s father and have yet to be established through the judicial process.
Events leading to the discovery of the body
The case statement says that at around 5.30pm on 20 September, Gazi Nazrul called Mariam’s father and asked him to come to the residence immediately.
When he arrived, he reportedly found several people at the flat. He was then informed that Mariam was hanging inside a room, with an orna wrapped around her neck and attached to a ceiling fan.
Police from Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station subsequently arrived. With police assistance, the door of the room was broken open and Mariam’s body was recovered.
A handwritten suicide note was also reportedly found on the bed, according to the case statement. The circumstances surrounding the note, including its contents and relevance to the investigation, are among the matters that investigators are expected to examine.
Other accused have already faced questioning
The case has involved several rounds of arrests and court proceedings.
Maksuda was granted one day’s remand on 21 September following her arrest. After the remand period ended, she was sent to jail on 22 September.
Gazi Nazrul was also taken into custody for questioning. He was subjected to two rounds of remand, totalling eight days, before being sent to jail on 28 September.
A further development came on 30 September, when Mariam’s father appeared before the court and submitted an affidavit stating that the parties had reached a settlement. He told the court that he had no objection if the accused were granted bail.
Following the hearing, the court granted bail to Maksuda. Gazi Nazrul, however, was denied bail.
The latest court order places Obaidur in investigative custody for four days. Investigators are expected to question him about the circumstances surrounding Mariam’s marriage, the events preceding her death and the allegations made against him in the case.
The prosecution’s allegations have not yet been proved in court, and the defence has denied Obaidur’s involvement in the alleged abetment. The investigation and subsequent legal proceedings will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish criminal responsibility for Mariam’s death.
